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CLC still studying master's requirement for part-time professors

College of Lake County board Chairman William Griffin says research continues into whether part-time, adjunct professors will need a master's degree to teach at the school starting in the 2017-18 academic year.

Griffin's update at a board meeting this week on the adjunct professors' futures came about a month after the issue surfaced before the elected officials.

At least 17 instructors are caught in CLC's accreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission, which now recommends part-timers have a master's as part of revised faculty guidelines. Accreditation from the independent national commission, in part, gives CLC students the ability to transfer credits to other institutions.

Griffin said CLC President Jerry Weber and Provost Richard Haney are among the officials taking a comprehensive look at the commission's revised minimum faculty guidelines.

"Very soon, we will have a bit more information on that," Griffin said.

While the revised document recommends master's degrees for the part-time adjuncts, it also includes a passage stating work experience may be considered by an institution in determining whether a faculty member is qualified to teach.

John Mose, an adjunct professor in CLC's music department since 2008, is one of the part-time teachers in limbo for not having a master's degree. Roughly 20 Mose supporters attended a CLC board meeting in February to ask that the 43-year music industry professional and trombone player be allowed to continue working at the school.

Griffin acknowledged the concern expressed for Mose and, by extension, the other adjunct professors in his chairman's report.

"We heard it," he said. "We take those issues seriously. It involves people's jobs and their livelihood. And that's very important to us."

In Mose's case, he has a lengthy resume listing freelance trombone gigs when performers visit the Chicago area and need extra musicians. He's been on stage with Tony Bennett, Frankie Valli, Nancy Wilson and many other stars.

His CLC duties include conducting the 60-musician concert band, which has members who are not students. Mose said Friday that band members have been asking him about his status for 2017-18.

"I am more hopeful than I was 60 days ago, no question about that," said Mose, an Elmhurst resident with a bachelor's degree in music education.

He said he was told about a year ago he'd need a master's to stay at CLC but could not meet the deadline.

CLC instructors could lose jobs over master's degree requirement

William Griffin
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